Chemotherapeutic compositions

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to the treatment of gastrointestinal disease and/or cancer, and a method of weight gain, via the ingestion of polymeric compositions in humans, animals or birds in need of said treatment. The invention provides methods for the treatment of cancer, the treatment and/or prevention of gastrointestinal disease and/or infection and/or diarrhea and a method for increasing weight gain in humans, animals or birds comprising administering to said humans, animals or birds an effective amount of a pharmaceutical or veterinary composition or feed additive, comprising an effective amount of a polymer and/or copolymer, having the repeating polymeric unit (I) wherein R is H or alkyl, usually C 1  to C 4 , or this unit in hydrated, hemiacetal or acetal form, together with a pharmaceutically or veterinarally acceptable carrier, diluent, adjuvant, excipient and/or controlled release system.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the treatment of gastrointestinal disease, and/or cancer, and a method of weight gain, via the ingestion of polymeric compositions in humans, animals or birds in need of said treatment.

BACKGROUND ART

Under the conditions of intensive pig-rearing, post-weaning colibacillosis is ubiquitous. For example, intensive pig-rearing is used throughout Europe, United States and Australia. For example, in the United States, post-weaning colibacillosis is the most common cause of mortality in the weaner pig (Leman et al., 1986). The disease is associated with the proliferation of Escherichia coli bacteria in the anterior small intestine after weaning, and gives rise to either death, or the young weaner failing to make normal weight-gains. Other microbiological diseases are common and often accompany colibacillosis in pigs as well as in other animals in intensive rearing conditions, especially poultry.

In the past, attempts have been made to control disease by the ingestion of antimicrobial compositions or by vaccination, neither of which has proved entirely effective.

The rationale behind the lack of success surrounding ingestion of antimicrobial compositions has been the fact that proteinaceous feedstuffs and the contents of the gastrointestinal tract present a reactive and hazardous environment to any chemotherapeutic agent and hence, an in vitro active antimicrobial agent will often not be effective when used in vivo within the gastrointestinal tract.

Further, to be antimicrobially effective in a practical way, there is often the restrictive demand that the gastrointestinal disease controlling agent should reasonably maintain the very low microbiological content in the duodenum, yet the very high content in the lower parts of the intestine.

As well, it does not follow that even in vivo effective antimicrobials will give weight-gains, since it is common that even a cocktail of several such commercially used antimicrobials only gives rise to variable, partial or even negative relative weight-gains over control animals.

Accordingly, there is a need for improvements in the prevention and/or treatment of disease via ingestion of antimicrobial compositions in humans and/or animals and/or birds in need of said treatment. Furthermore, there is the need for the attainment of weight gains of said humans and/or animals and/or birds undergoing said treatment.

The present invention provides polymers and/or copolymers preferably derived from acrolein and having the polymeric repeating unit:

wherein R is H or alkyl, usually C₁ to C₄ or this unit in hydrated, hemiacetal or acetal form and illustrated non-comprehensively of all possible structures, by the following formulae:

wherein n is one or more and R is as defined above; hereinafter referred to as the “Subject Polymers”, as broad spectrum in vivo antimicrobials and/or anti-cancer agents suitable for treatment by the oral route.

It is known that the rate of passage of molecules across membranes has an inverse relationship to their molecular weights. Thus, it is widely and generally accepted in the art that molecules taken by the oral route and having molecular weight <1000, will have their passage across the gut so restricted, and consequently any potential toxicity will be effectively minimised.

The Subject Polymers, being aldehydic, are especially reactive with protein. (In fact, in microbiological assays, the routine and facile method of quenching/destroying the activity of the Subject Polymers—is to add protein.) Hence, the Subject Polymers would not be expected to exhibit significant microbiological activity in the intestine, especially in the presence of proteinaceous feed.

Therefore, the present invention provides a method of prevention and/or treatment of gastrointestinal disease in humans, animals or birds resulting from the microbial infection of the gastrointestinal tract, and a method for increasing weight gain in humans, animals or birds having gastrointestinal disease and/or infection, comprising administering an effective amount to said humans, animals or birds of a pharmaceutical composition or feed additive, comprising an effective amount of the Subject Polymers together with a pharmaceutically or veterinarally acceptable carrier, diluent, adjuvant, excipient or controlled release system.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide methods for the prevention and treatment of dysfunctional/pathological states in a human, animal or bird, especially, those states within the gastrointestinal tract associated with colibacillosis, diarrhoea, mortality and/or reduced weight gains.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is based upon a series of discoveries herein:

Firstly, it has now been discovered that the Subject Polymers, being of high molecular weight are inhibited in passage through biological membranes, and have facilitated applications in the gastrointestinal tract, since passage through the gut and into the bloodstream to potentially cause toxicity is minimised. In particular, it has been discovered that the Subject Polymers have molecular weights >1000, and generally have molecular weights >2000, which effectively minimise their passage across the intestinal membranes and as a result, it has been found herein that whilst the Subject Polymers exhibit toxicity following intra-venous injection, they exhibit no toxicity when administered orally. Hence it has been discovered that the Subject Polymers have mimimised toxicities and that they have associated advantages when used for chemotherapeutic purposes, in any species having gut membranes, for example, humans, animals or birds.

Generally, the Subject Polymers formed by ionic initiation/catalysis are more hydrophilic than those formed by free radical initiation/catalysis, and hydrophilicity of the Subject Polymers may generally be increased by inclusion within them of hydrophilic groups, especially carboxyl groups, or of hydrophilic monomers, especially acrylic acid. Particularly, carefully heating the Subject Polymers formed by ionic initiation/catalysis with ample air from room temperature to up to 100° C., and preferably up to between 80-85° C., produces the Subject Polymers having 0.1-5 moles of carboxyl groups/kg, aqueous soluble at the pH of the duodenum especially, and preferred for the applications in gastrointestinal tracts described and envisaged herein.

The Subject Polymers have the following properties:

The Subject Polymers have an unusually broad in vivo antimicrobial profile, providing a method of treatment of gastrointestinal disease in humans, animal or birds.

It has been shown that the Subject Polymers provide increased weight gains in humans, animals or birds.

It has also been shown that the Subject Polymers are in vivo anti-cancer agents.

According to a first embodiment of the invention there is provided a method of in vivo cancer treatment in humans, animals or birds comprising administering to said humans, animals or birds an effective amount of a pharmaceutical or veterinary composition or feed additive, comprising an effective amount of polymers and/or copolymers having the repeating polymeric unit:

wherein R is H or alkyl, usually C₁ to C₄, or this unit in hydrated, hemiacetal or acetal form and illustrated non-comprehensively of all possible structures, by the following formulae:

wherein n is one or more and R is as defined above; together with a pharmaceutically or veterinarally acceptable carrier, diluent, adjuvant, excipient and/or controlled release system.

According to a second embodiment of the invention there is provided a method for the treatment and/or prevention of gastrointestinal disease and/or infection and/or diarrhoea in humans, animals or birds resulting from a microbial infection of the gastrointestinal tract in said humans, animals or birds, comprising administering to said humans, animals or birds an effective amount of a pharmaceutical or veterinary composition or feed additive, comprising an effective amount of a polymer and/or copolymer as defined in the first embodiment of the invention, together with a pharmaceutically or veterinarally acceptable carrier, diluent, adjuvant, excipient and/or controlled release system.

According to a third embodiment of the invention there is provided a method of increasing weight gain in humans, animals or birds having cancer and/or gastrointestinal microbial disease and/or infection, in said humans, animals or birds, comprising administering to said humans, animals or birds an effective amount of a pharmaceutical or veterinary composition or feed additive, comprising an effective amount of a polymer and/or copolymer as defined in the first embodiment of the invention, together with a pharmaceutically or veterinarally acceptable carrier, diluent, adjuvant, excipient and/or controlled release system.

In terms of the Subject Polymers being a prevention and/or treatment for gastrointestinal disease, it has now been shown that farm-piglets given the Subject Polymers ad libitum in their drinking water, have reduced numbers of diarrhoea days and lower counts of E. coli in their excreta. Moreover, the effect as proposed, is markedly greater than the partial effect exhibited by the administration of commercial antimicrobial agents together with vaccination.

In addition, it has now been discovered that the Subject Polymers in a polymeric controlled-release system as well as leading to fewer diarrhoea days in the animal, also gave rise to extraordinarily high weight-gains. As exemplified in Example 17, piglets displayed lower mortality, and weight gains of some 46% above control piglets.

Therefore, it is proposed that the Subject Polymers should be provided as an additive to the animal's solid feed, in the form of a polymeric controlled-release system, since then, the Subject Polymers would be released slowly and mainly in the duodenum. Further, it is now proposed that having the Subject Polymers in a controlled-release system will reduce any destructive chemical reaction between the Subject Polymers and either constituents of the gastro-intestinal tract or the proteinaceous feed, especially during the essential pre-heat sterilisation of the feed. Furthermore, any rejection by the animal due to taste, will be reduced.

When using the Subject Polymers for the treatment of disease and/or infection in humans, animals or birds in need of treatment, for example in piglets having diarrhoea associated with colibacillosis, it is preferred to begin dosing immediately after weaning and to always continue for the next 5 days, sometimes for the next 30 days, but preferably at least for the next 15 days after weaning; at any time that such symptoms of diarrhoea are observed. Treatment in a controlled-release form is preferred and containing theoretically 5%-50% w/w Subject Polymers but preferably, 20%-30% w/w. Preferably the controlled-release form/pellet is added to the feed, either during production of the feed or during feeding such that the feed contains 1%-20% w/w and preferably 2%-8% w/w of pellet. If for example a piglet of 5 kg daily eats 500 g of feed with 4% w/w controlled-release pellet containing 25% w/w Subject Polymers—this calculates to a dose rate of Subject Polymers of 1000 mg/kg(liveweight)/day; in a controlled-release form a dose rate of 50-5000 mg/kg/day is practical but 500-2500 mg/kg/day is preferred. Smaller dose rates of 25-500 mg/kg/day should be used when the Subject Polymers are given in a non-controlled-release form. Dose protocols and rates are similar for other microbiological infections and for cancer.

Both the in vivo antimicrobial activity in the presence of relatively huge quantities of reactive proteins in the gastro-intestinal tract, and the range of chemotherapeutic activities of the Subject Polymers, revealed herein, are surprising. Also, in unpublished work, the Subject Polymers have been found to exhibit significant anti-coagulant activities in human or a range of various animal bloods. This particular range of surprising in vivo activities suggests that unexpectedly, the Subject Polymers have such activities related to lectin-selectin-integrin type adsorptive inter-actions.

Compositions for administration in the method of the invention may be prepared by means known in the art for the preparation of compositions (such as in the art of veterinary and pharmaceutical compositions) including blending, grinding, homogenising, suspending, dissolving, emulsifying, dispersing and where appropriate, mixing of the Subject Polymers together with selected excipients, diluents, carriers and adjuvants.

For oral administration, the pharmaceutical or veterinary composition may be in the form of tablets, lozenges, pills, troches, capsules, elixirs, powders, including lyophilised powders, solutions, granules, suspensions, emulsions, syrups and tinctures. Slow-release, or delayed-release, forms may also be prepared, for example in the form of coated particles, multi-layer tablets or microgranules.

It is preferred that the controlled release system comprises a pH-sensitive, cross-linked, water-absorbent pellet, which when wet is a gel.

Solid forms for oral administration may contain pharmaceutically or veterinarally acceptable binders, sweeteners, disintegrating agents, diluents, flavourings, coating agents, preservatives, lubricants and/or time delay agents. Suitable binders include gum acacia, gelatin, corn starch, gum tragacanth, sodium alginate, carboxymethylcellulose or polyethylene glycol. Suitable sweeteners include sucrose, lactose, glucose, aspartame or saccharine. Suitable disintegrating agents include corn starch, methylcellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone, xanthan gum, bentonite, alginic acid or agar. Suitable diluents include lactose, sorbitol, mannitol, dextrose, kaolin, cellulose, calcium carbonate, calcium silicate or dicalcium phosphate. Suitable flavouring agents include peppermint oil, oil of wintergreen, cherry, orange or raspberry flavouring. Suitable coating agents include polymers or copolymers of acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid and/or their esters, and/or their amides, waxes, fatty alcohols, zein, shellac or gluten. Suitable preservatives include sodium benzoate, vitamin E, alpha-tocopherol, ascorbic acid, methyl paraben, propyl paraben or sodium bisulphite. Suitable lubricants include magnesium stearate, stearic acid, sodium oleate, sodium chloride or talc. Suitable time delay agents include glyceryl monostearate or glyceryl distearate.

Liquid forms for oral administration may contain, in addition to the above agents, a liquid carrier. Suitable liquid carriers include water, oils such as olive oil, peanut oil, sesame oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, arachis oil, coconut oil, liquid paraffin, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, glycerol, fatty alcohols, triglycerides or mixtures thereof.

Suspensions for oral administration may further comprise dispersing agents and/or suspending agents. Suitable suspending, agents include sodium carboxymethylcellulose, methylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethyl-cellulose, poly-vinyl-pyrrolidone, sodium alginate or cetyl alcohol. Suitable dispersing agents include lecithin, polyoxyethylene esters of fatty acids such as stearic acid, polyoxyethylene sorbitol mono- or di-oleate, -stearate or -laurate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan mono- or di-oleate, -stearate or -laurate and the like.

The emulsions for oral administration may further comprise one or more emulsifying agents. Suitable emulsifying agents include dispersing agents as exemplified above or natural gums such as gum acacia or gum tragacanth.

According to a fourth embodiment of the invention there is provided a method of producing pellets, the pellets comprising polymers and/or copolymers as defined in the first embodiment of the invention, together with a pharmaceutically or veterinarally acceptable carrier, diluent, adjuvant, excipient and/or controlled release system, mainly within a polymeric matrix. The method comprising adding a polymeric matrix to a solution, suspension or emulsion of the polymers and/or copolymers as defmed in the first embodiment of the invention.

According to a fifth embodiment of the invention there is provided a method of producing pellets or like solid composition, the pellets comprising polymers and/or copolymers as defined in the first embodiment of the invention, mainly within a polymeric matrix, said method as defined in the fourth embodiment of the invention and comprising the steps of:

(i) dissolving said polymers and/or copolymers in an aqueous alkaline or basic solution;

(ii) neutralising said solution with acid;

(iii) adding to said neutralised solution insoluble, cross-linked, absorbent polymers of acrylic acid and/or copolymers of acrylamide and acrylic acid, to form wet swollen pellets; and

(iv) optionally, wholly or partially drying said wet swollen pellets.

The so-formed wet, swollen pellets may be used either wet, partially dried or wholly dried, as an additive to, for example, animal feed. This system is further designed so that the carboxyl-containing groups of the outer polymeric matrix cause the Subject Polymers to remain essentially contained within the matrix when in the acidic environment of the stomach. However, in the alkaline environment of the duodenum, the carboxyl groups of the matrix become ionised and mutually-repelling, and the pellet rapidly swells to allow the Subject Polymers, aided by repulsion among their own ionic groups, to be excluded by a diffusion process, approximately matching the speed of passage of feed through the duodenum.

In this invention, the term, “controlled release system” is used in the same context as that in, and includes the same range of examples as quoted in “Controlled Drug Delivery” (Robinson & Lee, 1987). Many other pH-sensitive controlled-release systems which are known in the art (Robinson and Lee, 1987) may be substituted for the polymer of acrylic acid or copolymer of acrylamide and acrylic acid. For example, soluble and anionic or insoluble, cross-linked and anionic, cellulosic systems or soluble and anionic, or insoluble, cross-linked and anionic polymers derived from any generic acrylic acid and/or its derivatives. Such cross-linked and insoluble polymers are preferred since they swell and also, are less likely to be metabolised.

In summary, the compositions described herein may be used to control cancer and/or microbiological disease and especially result in greater weights of humans, animals or birds having gastrointestinal infections. The invention is applicable in humans, animals or birds having microbiological diseases of the gastrointestinal tract for example, Escherichia coli. A preferred use is to bring about greater weights in newly-weaned piglets having diarrhoea and associated with the proliferation of Escherichia coli bacteria in the anterior small intestine. The invention may be applicable in humans having gastrointestinal disease, for example, from Staphylococcus aureus and/or Helicobactor pylori bacteria.

The invention will now be described with reference to specific Examples, which should not be construed as limiting on the scope thereof.

EXAMPLES 1 TO 13 Preparations and Structures of Subject Polymers Example 1

(a) Using a free radical initiator/free radical catalyst: 9.64 g distilled acrolein and 25 g methanol were placed in a 100 ml round bottom flask and purged with nitrogen. 0.525 g benzoyl peroxide was added and the solution stirred under nitrogen at 60° C. The reaction was allowed to continue for a total of ca. 88 hours. After this time the reaction solution had become strongly yellow in colour and had a solids content of 30.5%. ¹³C-NMR (300MHZ) δ ( relative to d₄-methanol at 49.00): 33.27 (CH); 33.53 (CH); 33.79 (CH); 33.87 (CH₂); 37.03 (CH); 37.29 (CH); 37.54 (CH); 37.64 (CH₂); 97.15 (CH); 103.37 (CH); 104.34 (CH); 139.36 (CH); 139.78(CH₂); 196.72 (CH). The ¹³C-NMR spectrum shows some residual acrolein with the aldehyde carbon at δ196.72 and the vinylic CH₂ and CH at 6139.78 and δ139.36, respectively; apart from the δ196.72 (CH) resonance absorption, there was no other attributed to —CHO. The spectrum is consistent with polymeric acrolein consisting of fused tetrahydropyran rings and some free dihydroxy methyl groups. The rings exist in either the boat or chair conformations giving rise to more chemical shifts than may be expected.

Typically, as an indication of molecular weight, the polyacrolein was found to have a retention time which was shorter than that of polyethyleneglycol 2.000 on a Porasil GPC 60 Angstrom column using a Waters Associated Model ALC/GPC 204 liquid chromatograph fitted with a differential refractometer R401.

(b) Using an ionic initiator/catalyst: 1.6 g distilled acrolein was made up to 20 ml with deionised water in a 200 ml beaker and then, ca. 0.5 ml of 0.2M sodium hydroxide added with stirring to pH ca. 10-11. The solution became cloudy and a white precipitate began to form. The contents were stirred for a further 2 hours and then filtered. The precipitate was washed thoroughly with deionised water until the filtrate was neutral. The product may be carefully heat-dried in contact with ample air, initially at ambient temperatures and then at temperatures up to about 100° C. Alternatively, as in this case, the product may be dried under vacuum to a white-pale yellow, fine powder; dissolved in methanol, and it may be evaporated down to dryness and then again, dissolved in methanol or other solvents. Often, the Subject Polymers have 0.1-5 moles of carboxyl groups/kg and were found to have GPC retention times which were mainly shorter than that of polyethylene glycol 2,000. ¹³C-NMR (300 MHz) δ (relative to d₄-methanol at 49.00): 19-31 (CH₂); 35.95 (CH₂); 37-42 (CH); 62-73 (CH₂); 73-81 (CH); 92-95 (CH); 96-103 (CH); 114-120 (CH₂); 134-141 (CH); 196.0 (CH).

In experiments using in each case, 2 groups of 10 Swiss white mice (treated and control, respectively) it was found that solutions of the Subject Polymers in aqueous triethanolamine adjusted to pH 8, had an acute intra-venous toxicity of 320 mg/kg, and acute oral toxicity of >5000 mg/kg (no deaths nor abnormal signs were apparent over 14 days).

Example 2

6.489 g distilled acrylic acid, 0.56 g distilled acrolein and 15 g methanol were placed in a 50 ml round bottom flask and purged with nitrogen. 0.33 g benzoyl peroxide was added and the solution stirred under nitrogen at 60-65° C. The reaction was continued for ca. 66 hours. After this time the contents of the flask had become very viscous, having a solids content of 57.7% (indicating 100% conversion).

A sample of the viscous material was placed on a petri dish and dried on a hot plate to remove solvent. Drying was completed in an oven at 80° C. and a transparent, slightly yellow coloured polymer was obtained. The copolymer is completely soluble in warm water (ca. 50° C.) and once dissolved remains so, even on cooling the solution.

In order to ensure that the solids obtained were polymeric, a simple dialysis experiment was performed: 10 g of an aqueous solution containing 0.65% solids was placed in a dialysis tube. This was irrigated with water continuously for ca. 66 hours. The solution in the dialysis tube was then recovered and the solids content determined at 0.68%. Since the solids were completely retained and the lower limit for solids penetration through the dialysis tube is 2000 mwt, it is concluded that the solids are polymeric.

Example 3

2.8 g of acrolein diethyl acetal was placed in a 100 ml round bottom flask and the contents purged with nitrogen. A solution of 0.216 g potassium persulphate in 7.5 g water was added with stirring. under nitrogen. The flask was placed in an oil bath at 60-70° C. and stirred for ca. 20 hours. A yellow solid was recovered and dried at 50° C.; weight 0.915 g.

Example 4

4 g distilled acrylic acid, 4.81 g acrolein diethyl acetal and 15 g methanol were placed in a 50 ml round bottom flask and purged with nitrogen. Then 0.3 g benzoyl peroxide was added and stirring continued under nitrogen at 60-65° C. for 70 hours (solids determination indicated a 50% conversion). ¹³C-NMR (300 MHz) δ (relative to d₄-methanol at 49.00): 15.58 (CH₃); 18.31 (CH₃); 35.52 (CH₂); 36.24 (CH₂); 37.07 (CH₂); 42.36 (CH); 42.85 (CH); 58.32 (CH₂); 130.00 (CH); 131.57 (CH₂); 178.51 (CH).

Example 5

3.8 g of acrolein diethyl acetal, 3.3 g vinyl pyrrolidone and 10 g methanol were placed in 50 ml round bottom flask and thoroughly purged with nitrogen. 0.71 g azobisisobutyronitrile was added and the flask heated in an oil bath at 60-65° C., with stirring under nitrogen for 72 hours when the conversion was 44%. The copolymer was found to be soluble in methanol.

Example 6

In a similar technique to the above, 3.9 g acrolein diethyl acetal, 1.16 g acrylic acid, 7.5 ml water and 0.216 g potassium persulphate were heated under nitrogen, with stirring in an oil bath at 60-70° C. for ca. 24 hours when a white waxy material was recovered; it was insoluble in water, but swelled in methanol, acetone, tetra-hydrofaran or methyl ethyl ketone.

Example 7

A similar result was achieved through heating and stirring in the usual way to the above: 14.5 g methanol, 3.62 g distilled acrolein, 1.21 g distilled acrylic acid and 0.265 g benzoyl peroxide. After 40 hours the conversion was 40%.

Examples 8-11

A 50:50 mixture of monomers was treated as follows: 2.35 g distilled acrolein, 2.88 g distilled acrylic acid and 14.5 g methanol were placed in a 50 ml round bottom flask and flushed with nitrogen. 0.2625 g benzoyl peroxide was added and after heating at 60-70° C. for 48 hours the conversion was 70%. The polymer swelled in methanol but was insoluble in water.

Similar preparations were achieved with different ratios of the monomers acrolein: acrylic acid namely, 30:70 (Example 9), 10:90 (Example 10), 2.5:97.5 (Example 11). The products from Examples 10 and 11 were soluble in water and retained by dialysis tubing of exclusion 2,000 mwt.

Example 12

In a similar preparation to the above, 42% conversion was achieved of a polymer which swelled in methanol or water, from 1.8 g acrolein, 3.3 g vinyl pyrrolidone and 0.071 g azobisisobutyronitrile.

Example 13

30 mg benzoyl peroxide was added to a solution of 1.02 g polyethyleneglycol acrylate and 0.5 ml acrolein in 5 ml methanol. The mixture was stirred and heated to reflux for 48 hours and gave 90% conversion; the residual oil (1.2 g) was chromatographed on Sephadex LH-20 (18 g) in methanol. The structure of the resulting polymer was confirmed by NMR analysis.

Example 14

Young adult female mice were inoculated intra-peritoneally with 2.3×10⁶ Ehrlich ascites tumour cells and one week later, those mice with swollen abdomens were selected for further experimentation: 15 of such mice were treated twice a day for three days and once a day for the next three days, with intra-peritoneal injections of the Subject Polymers in 0.5% aqueous sodium carbonate at a dose rate of 150 mg/kg mouse; a control group of 15 mice having Ehrlich ascites tumour cells was treated with the sodium carbonate solution only. All mice in both groups were then sacrificed, the peritoneal fluids were collected and the number of tumour cells counted:

Control Group Treated Group Mouse Mouse Number Peritoneal cells × 10⁹ Number Peritoneal cells × 10⁹ 1 2.30 16 0.97 2 3.55 17 0.54 3 2.13 18 0.14 4 0.05 19 0.06 5 2.55 20 0.11 6 2.27 21 0.07 7 2.93 22 0.27 8 1.93 23 0.93 9 2.34 24 0.36 10 5.58 25 1.04 11 2.23 26 0.12 12 1.65 27 0.64 13 4.76 28 0.16 14 2.01 29 0.67 15 3.36 30 0.54 x = 2.64 x = 0.44 s = 1.31 s = 0.35

A t-test showed the control and treated groups to be different at greater than 99% confidence level.

Example 15

The Subject Polymers were suspended/dissolved in the drinking water of piglets, at 0.1% w/v for the first 2-3 days and then at 0.05% w/v for the next 7 days; drinking was ad libitum; consumption of Subject Polymers was approximately 200 mg/kg of piglet/day.

Three groups of 28-day, newly-weaned piglets (mean weight 5.6 kg)were studied:

1. Treated with Subject Polymer, only;

2. Treated with prior vaccination protocol, only;

3. No treatment at all (control).

During the 14-day trial, in keeping with usual practice at the farm, those piglets which were observed during the daily inspection to have diarrhoea, were given an injection of antibiotic.

Treatment: Treatment: Subject Vaccination No Treatment: Polymers Only Only Control No. 28-day piglets in 15 19 10 group No. diarrhoea days 0.47 1.11 1.8 (mean/piglet) No. injections of 0.6 2.53 4.6 antibiotic (mean/piglet) No. piglets with heavy 0.53 0.79 0.9 E. coli in faeces, day 7 (mean/piglet) Weight-gain, 14 days 33 32 37 (mean % / piglet)

Example 16

In a typical small-scale experiment, Subject Polymers (35 g) were dissolved with stirring in water (638 g) containing sodium carbonate (19 g), and then the solution was immediately neutralised to pH 7.2 with 10% hydrochloric acid; Sucrose (32 g; sweetening agent) which may be discretionally included, was added with continued stirring and then either an absorbent polymer of acrylic acid (64 g; CARBOPOL 934, B.F. Goodrich, USA) or an absorbent copolymer of acrylamide-acrylic acid (64 g; ALCOSORB AB 3S, Allied Colloids, England) was added. The resulting swollen beads took-up the typically pale-yellow colour of the Subject Polymers in solution. The beads/pellets may be used wet, but were typically, either partially or wholly dried at temperatures up to 45° C., before use. However, higher temperatures, up to about 90-100° C. may be used. On the basis of solid substances added, theoretically, the pellets contain approximately 25% w/w of Subject Polymers.

Two experiments were undertaken to assess the rate of release of the Subject Polymers at simulated pHs of the stomach and the duodenum, respectively. Firstly, the above fully-dried beads (200 mg) were gently stirred in 0.1M hydrochloric acid (100 mL). An aliquot (10 mL) was periodically removed and diluted in excess 0.2M aqueous sodium bicarbonate; measurement of a peak near 265 nm indicated a maximum release, in 0.1M hydrochloric acid, of approximately 35% after about forty five minutes. Secondly, by contrast, a comparable experiment in 0.1M aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution revealed 35% release in about twenty minutes, and 90%-100% after three to five hours. These properties of the beads were unaffected by heating conditions which may be used commercially, to reduce microorganisms in feed (90° C./30 minutes).

Example 17

In one experiment, two groups, each of ten newly-weaned 21-day-old pigs from a commercial piggery were given an oral dose of E. coli (50 mL; 10⁹CFU/mL) of haemolytic E. coli, cultured from a field case of post-weaning colibacillosis. On the same day, one group of the pigs was given ad libitum feeding of 19% crude protein feed containing the wholly-dried beads/pellets sprinkled in the feed at the rate of 3.75% w/w of feed. The pellets contained theoretically, approximately 25% w/w of the Subject Polymers. Furthermore, a “No Treatment” group was given feed, only. Each pig consumed about 500 g of feed, daily. Swabs were taken of rectal faeces initially and then again, 48 hours after dosage with the E. coli. Three days after this regime (during which time two pigs of the untreated group died with acute secretory diarrhoea), all remaining pigs were sacrificed and the E. coli estimated semi-quantitatively in sections of the duodenum (after swabbing the mucosa and then using a scale of 4 (highest) to 0 (lowest) within the usual microbiologists' dilution-strike technique on culture plates). Post-mortem examination did not reveal any gastric inflammation in any pig.

Scores for haemolytic E. coli in the rectal faeces of pigs in the two groups on the day of inoculation, and 48 hours later, and are illustrated in the following table:

Initial 48 hours later No Treatment Treatment No Treatment Treatment 1 2 1 0 0 0 3 1 1 1 4 2 1 0 4 0 0 1 3 1 0 2 2 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 4 0 0 0 4 2 0 0 2 2 Total 4 8 28 10

After 48 hours the number of haemolytic E. coli in the faeces of the pigs receiving the Subject Polymers was significantly less than that in the untreated pigs (χ²=16.24; p=<0.001).

Furthermore, the distribution of haemolytic E. coli in the upper (25%) and mid (50%) jejunum of the treated and untreated pigs, after sacrifice, is recorded below:

25% 50% No Treatment Treatment No Treatment Treatment 1 1 2 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 4 4 3* 0 4* 0 2 0 3 1 1 1 2 1 1 3 2 3 4 0 4 0 3* 20 4* 0 1 0 2 0 Total 17 6 28 9 *Dead pigs

The treated pigs had significantly fewer haemolytic E coli than the untreated pigs, at both the 25% site (χ²=7.38; p=<0.01) and the 50% site (χ²=16.24; p=<0.001).

Another experiment was executed identically, except for the fact that 15 newly-weaned pigs were in each group. The initial inoculation of E. coli in the experimental group was reduced to one-third of previously described, and the controlled-release pellets theoretically contained 20% w/w of the Subject Polymers. Observations of diarrhoea days and weight gain were made of the pigs over 21 days. The results showed the treated group had statistically significant fewer diarrhoea days and statistically significant (46%) greater weight-gain over the control group.

Live Weight Gains and Days of Diarrhoea Group Control Treated Number 15 15 Mean Initial weight (kg), day 1 4.77 4.43 Standard Error 0.22 0.19 Relative (%) 100.00 92.00 Mean Final weight (kg), day 21 6.63 7.31 Standard Error 0.35 0.36 Relative (%) 100.00 110.30 Mean Daily gain (g), 0-21 days 94.18 137.33 Standard Error 10.27 13.16 Relative (%) * 100.00 146.00 Days of diarrhoea ** 32 13 * t = 2.47; p = 0.02 (two tail) ** No diarrhoea in any pig, after day 10.

References

Leman, A. D., Straw, B., Glock, R. D., Mengeline, W. L., Penny, R. H. C. and Scholl, E. (1986). “Diseases of Swine”, 6th Edition, Iowa State University Press.

Robinson, J. R. and Lee, V. H. L. (1987). “Controlled Drug Delivery”. Marcell Dekker. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for the treatment of poultry for promoting weight gain, comprising: orally administering to said poultry an effective amount of a composition comprising a therapeutic agent consisting essentially of a polymer or copolymer of acrolein in an amount up to 5000 mg of polymer or copolymer of acrolein per kilogram of body weight per day, said polymer or copolymer of acrolein having a molecular weight of at least 1000 and a repeating unit selected from the group consisting of units of formula I;

 and units derived from the unit formula I selected from the group consisting of the hydrated, hemiacetal and acetal forms thereof, and wherein the polymer or copolymer comprises carboxyl groups at concentration of from 0.1 to 5 moles of carboxyl groups per kilogram of polymer or copolymer.
 2. A method for treatment of piglets afflicted with gastrointestinal disease, gastrointestinal infection or diarrhea resulting from the infection of the gastrointestinal tract by a microbe, comprising: orally administering to or feeding to said animal a feed composition or water comprising an antimicrobially effective amount of a polymer or copolymer of acrolein up to 5000 mg of polymer or copolymer of acrolein per kilogram of body weight per day, said polymer or copolymer of acrolein having a molecular weight of greater than 1000 and having a repeating polymeric unit selected from the group consisting of formula I;

 and forms thereof selected from the group consisting of the hydrated, hemiacetal and acetal forms thereof and wherein the polymer or copolymer comprises carboxyl groups at concentration of from 0.1 to 5 moles of carboxyl groups per kilogram of polymer or copolymer, wherein said feed composition or water does not contain an effective amount of another antimicrobial agent.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said polymer or copolymer is administered to poultry selected from the group consisting of ducks, turkeys, quail and pheasants.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein said antimicrobial agent is administered or fed to piglets for at least part of the time from the completion of weaning until 30 days after the completion of weaning.
 5. The method of claim 2, wherein said polymer or copolymer is administered or fed to piglets in an amount of 50-5000 mg/kg/day.
 6. The method of claim 2, wherein said polymer or copolymer is administered or fed to piglets in an amount of 25-500 mg/kg/day.
 7. The method of claim 2, wherein said piglet is newly-weaned.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein at least some of said newly-weaned piglets have diarrhea.
 9. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein said composition is in the form of pellets.
 10. The method of claim 2, wherein said composition is in the form of a liquid.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein said composition is added to drinking water of piglets.
 12. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein said composition comprises at least one additive selected from the group consisting of a binder, sweetener, disintegrating agent, diluent, flavoring, coating agent, preservative, lubricant and time delay agent.
 13. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the polymer or copolymer is administered via a controlled-delivery system.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein said controlled-delivery system is pH sensitive.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein said controlled-delivery system comprises insoluble, cross-linked polymers or copolymers of acrylic acid or polymers or copolymers of monomers selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid and acrylamide.
 16. The method of claim 13, wherein said controlled-delivery system is cross-linked and/or absorbent and, when wet, is a gel.
 17. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein said acrolein polymer or copolymer is an acrolein polymer prepared by ionic initiation and said carboxyl groups are introduced to the acrolein polymer by oxidation with air or oxygen.
 18. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein said polymer or copolymer is administered in the form of food or feed containing said polymer or copolymer as an additive.
 19. The method of claim 2, wherein said animal has an gastrointestinal infection caused by a bacterium.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein said bacteria is Escherichia coli and said disease or infection is colibacillosis.
 21. A method for treatment of piglets or poultry afflicted with gastrointestinal disease, gastrointestinal infection or diarrhea resulting from the infection of the gastrointestinal tract or for promoting weight gain, comprising: orally administering to said piglets or poultry a feed composition or water comprising an antimicrobially effective and therapeutically effective amount of a polymer formed by polymerization of acrolein monomer and having a molecular weight of at least 1,000 and wherein the polymer comprises carboxyl groups at a concentration of from 0.1 to 5 moles of carboxyl groups per kilogram of polymer, said carboxyl groups having been introduced by heating the polymer in air or oxygen.
 22. The method of claim 21, wherein said feed composition or water does not contain an effective amount of another antimicrobial agent.
 23. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said hydrate, hemiacetal and acetal forms are selected from the group consisting of the hydrated diol form, the hemiacetal or acetal form, as formed from the condensation of the diol form with the aldehyde or diol form, the tetrahydropyran or fused tetrahydropyran formed from condensation of the diol form, the aldol-Michael self condensation form and mixtures thereof.
 24. A method of treating weaned pigs afflicted with gastrointestinal disease, gastrointestinal infection or diarrhea resulting from the infection of the gastrointestinal tract by a microbe, said method comprising: orally administering to or feeding to said weaned pigs a feed composition or water comprising an antimicrobially effective and therapeutically effective amount of a polymer or copolymer of acrolein up to 5000 mg of polymer or copolymer of acrolein per kilogram of body weight per day, wherein said polymer or copolymer of acrolein has a molecular weight of greater than 1000 and has a repeating polymeric unit selected from the group consisting of formula I:

 and forms thereof, said forms thereof selected from the group consisting of the hydrated, hemiacetal and acetal forms thereof, and wherein the polymer or copolymer comprises carboxyl groups at a concentration in the polymer of 0.1 to 5 moles of carboxyl groups per kilogram of polymer or copolymer.
 25. A method of treating weaned pigs for promoting weight gain in said weaned pigs, said method comprising: orally administering to or feeding to said weaned pigs a feed composition or water comprising an antimicrobially effective and therapeutically effective amount of a polymer or copolymer of acrolein up to 5000 mg of polymer or copolymer of acrolein per kilogram of body weight per day, wherein said polymer or copolymer of acrolein has a molecular weight of greater than 1000 and has a repeating polymeric unit selected from the group consisting of formula I:

 and forms thereof, said forms thereof selected from the group consisting of the hydrated, hemiacetal and acetal forms thereof, and wherein the polymer or copolymer comprises carboxyl groups at a concentration in the polymer of 0.1 to 5 moles of carboxyl groups per kilogram of polymer or copolymer.
 26. A method of treating poultry afflicted with gastrointestinal disease, gastrointestinal infection or diarrhea resulting from the infection of the gastrointestinal tract by a microbe, said method comprising: orally administering to or feeding to said poultry a feed composition or water comprising an antimicrobially effective and therapeutically effective amount of a polymer or copolymer of acrolein up to 5000 mg of polymer or copolymer of acrolein per kilogram of body weight per day, wherein said polymer or copolymer of acrolein has a molecular weight of greater than 1000 and has a repeating polymeric unit selected from the group consisting of formula I:

 and forms thereof, said forms thereof selected from the group consisting of the hydrated, hemiacetal and acetal forms thereof, and wherein the polymer or copolymer comprises carboxyl groups at a concentration in the polymer of 0.1 to 5 moles of carboxyl groups per kilogram of polymer or copolymer.
 27. A method of treating poultry for promoting weight gain in said poultry, said method comprising: orally administering to or feeding to said poultry water comprising an antimicrobially effective and therapeutically effective amount of a polymer or copolymer of acrolein up to 5000 mg of polymer or copolymer of acrolein per kilogram of body weight per day, wherein said polymer or copolymer of acrolein has a molecular weight of greater than 1000 and has a repeating polymeric unit selected from the group consisting of formula I:

and forms thereof, said forms thereof selected from the group consisting of the hydrated, hemiacetal and acetal forms thereof, and wherein the polymer or copolymer comprises carboxyl groups at a concentration in the polymer of 0.1 to 5 moles of carboxyl groups per kilogram of polymer or copolymer.
 28. The method according to claim 27, wherein said polymer or copolymer of acrolein is administered in drinking water at a concentration of 0.05 to 1% by weight.
 29. The method of claim 2, wherein said composition is in the form of pellets.
 30. The method of claim 22, wherein said composition is in the form of pellets.
 31. The method of claim 22, wherein said composition is in the form of a liquid.
 32. The method of claim 25, wherein said composition is in the form of a liquid.
 33. A method for treatment of weaner piglets afflicted with gastrointestinal infection resulting from the infection of the gastrointestinal tract by E. coli, said method comprising: orally administering to said weaner piglets via drinking water an effect amount of a composition comprising a therapeutic agent consisting essentially of a polymer of acrolein in an amount up to 5000 mg of polymer of acrolein per kilogram of body weight per day, said polymer of acrolein having a molecular weight of at least 1000 and a repeating unit selected from the group consisting of units of formula I:

 and units derived from the unit formula I selected from the group consisting of the hydrated, hemiacetal and acetal forms thereof, and wherein the polymer comprises carboxyl groups at concentration of from 0.1 to 5 moles of carboxyl groups per kilogram of polymer.
 34. The method of claim 33, wherein said polymer of acrolein is administered in drinking water at a concentration of from 0.05 to 1% by weight.
 35. A method for the treatment of poultry or piglets afflicted with infection of the gastrointestinal tract by microbes, said method comprising: orally administering to said poultry or piglets an effective antimicrobial amount of a composition comprising a therapeutic agent consisting essentially of a polymer or copolymer of acrolein in an amount up to 5000 mg of polymer or copolymer of acrolein per kilogram of body weight per day, said polymer or copolymer of acrolein having a molecular weight of at least 1000 and a repeating unit selected from the group consisting of units of formula I;

 and units derived from the unit formula I selected from the group consisting of the hydrated, hemiacetal and acetal forms thereof, and wherein the polymer or copolymer comprises carboxyl groups at concentration of from 0.1 to 5 moles of carboxyl groups per kilogram of polymer or copolymer.
 36. The method of claim 1, 24 or 26, wherein antimicrobial activity is provided by an antimicrobial agent consisting essentially of said polymer or copolymer. 